Tooth cleaning applicator



April 6, 1948. H. R. RATHBUN 2,439,053

TEETH CLEANING APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 13} 1941 INVENTOR. HARRY R. R

A T'TORNEY.

Patented Apr. 6, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Section 3, Public Law 690, August s, 1946 Patent expires December 13, 19.61

4 Claims.

This invention relates to dental cleansing and massaging devices and more particularly to teeth cleaning and gum massaging applicators, although certain features thereof may be employed with equal advantages for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially. the provision of an improved, inexpensive, and highly effective finger manipulated dental cleaning and polishing applicator serving as a substitute for a tooth brush and cleanser customaril employed in the cleaning of the human teeth.

Numerous types of tooth brush substitutes have heretofore been proposed, but these have not proven entirely satisfactory owing to their comparatively high cost as a single use, dental cleaning, polishing and massaging expedient. Such tooth cleaners of the fabric type which have been suggested as sanitary tooth cleaner and massaging devices are highly expensive in construction so that they cannot be utilized as'a single use device and still compare favorably with the standard tooth brush. I

One object of the present invention is to simplify the constructionand improve the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive strip ofv fabric constructed for ready adaptation to the forefinger which is manipulated in conjunction therewith as a dental cleaning, polishing and massaging instrumentality.

Still another object is to provide an inexpensive strip of medicated fabric that is suitably slitted to serve as a forefinger index in the folded application thereto as a teeth cleansing pad.

A further object is to provide a single rectangu lar strip of fabric having an aperture'd region for protrusion of the forefinger thereto for enabling the folded association of .the cleansing strip to the finger.

A still further object is to provide a single rectangular strip of fabric having a cross-slitted region for protrusion of the forefinger thereto for enabling the folded association of the cleansing strip to the finger.

Still a further objectis to provide a strip of thin flexible material with a comparatively thick napped region to receive a tooth cleanser and affording the folded application thereof to the forefinger for direct rubbing application to the teeth as a tooth brush substitute.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a dental cleaning and massaging device embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side View in elevation of a dental pad shown inFigure 1 as applied to the forefinger just prior to being fully folded thereover for grasping engagement by the thumb.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, except that the strip of material isfully folded over the forefinger and held thereagainst with the thumb in its operative position of use.

Figure 4 is a palm view of the hand and the cleansing strip in its fully operative folded position preparatory to rubbing application to the teeth.

The structure selected for illustration comprises a thin flexible sheet of material such as a rectangular strip of fabric ID, in this instance a smoothly woven cotton strip. The elongated strip Ii] is comparatively long for its width, and is possessed of the usual flexibility constituting a common characteristic of most fabrics. The rectangular strip It] is preferably provided with an elongated rectangular tooth and gum rubbing region II that is woven or otherwise toprovide thereon deep-napped protuberances. The comparat-ively deep-napped area I I is such as provided by terry cloth which is a commonlyknown type of fabric consisting of protruding looped threads that has a capacity to absorb moisture and retain foreign substances such as medication and a cleanser therein.

The deep-napped area I! constitutes a terry cloth pile which offers a mild abrasive action when rubbed or applied with movement against the teeth and gums. The terry cloth H is characterized by its ability to retai a medicant or cleanser that is applied thereto in any suitable manner such as by drying a wet solution thereon, blowing a powder therein, or by incorporation through the action of heating or in any other manner depending upon the dictates of commercial practice.

An'example of a suitable teeth cleansing and treating medicant is as follows:

x Per cent by weight Sodium, chloride (iodized) The terry cloth pile II generally conforms in configuration with the strip II], but is of slightly lesser Width than the strip ID to present plain marginal borders I2 and I3 and a somewhat wider end border M. The end border I4 is the portion engaged by the thumb I5 for pressure application against the midjoint I6 of the forefinger H. The end border I4 should be sufliciently wide to accommodate the engaging surface of the thumb I5. The length of the terry cloth pile II is substantially less than the corresponding dimension of the rectangular strip Ill. The terry cloth pile I I need only be sufficiently long to provide full contact with the teeth while the strip.

' cloth pile I l and in longitudinal alignment therewith. This provides a plain woven strip portion 2I' beyond the aperture forming the cross-slits I920 for initial positioning between the thumb I5 and the forefinger I'I' after the forefinger tip I8 is projected through the tip indexing and engaging aperture formed by cross-slits III- which are spread intcan aperture sized to receive the finger tip 18.

Thereupon the other end I4 of the strip II] is brought around the forefinger tip 18 so that the terry cloth pile I I is disposed thereover and folded back on the plain'strip portion 21 to also assume a position between the thumb I5 and the forefinger I'I for tensioned retention therebetween. With this arrangement, the strip I0 is readily applied to the forefinger I! with the treated terry cloth pile I I positioned along the palm side ofthe hand 22, s that the strip I0 and its engaging surface II can be applied with a rubbing action against the teeth and gums on all surfaces thereof. The medication, cleaner or other substance in the terry cloth pile I I is dissolved by the saliva or moisture of the mouth during the rubbing application against the teeth surfaces to be cleansed and gums that are to be massaged. This effectually cleans the teeth and enables access to ordinarily hard-to-get-at crevices, which is important to dental hygiene. After the teeth have been cleansed and gums massaged in an effective and satisfactory manner, the strip I0 is disposed of as waste, since it is a single use dental cleansing and massaging expedient. This construction of the strip I0 affords a ready, simple, inexpensive and more sanitary substitute for the customary tooth bnush.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herewith specifically described without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages or features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as a limitation of the invention, its structural con-' cept or embodiment as to the whole or any part 4 thereof, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A dental massage and polishing utensil comprising a single linear flat strip of flexible mate- 5 rial, a comparatively deep-napped thick moisture 1o fabric portion contiguous with said deep-nappedsurface portion, there being an aperture in said plain woven portion of said linear strip of flexible material for enabling the attachment of said flexible strip of material to the forefinger for rub- 15 bing application to the teeth.

2. i A dental massage and polishing utensil comprisingalinear strip of flexible material, having a cleansing and polishing surface thereon, said linear strip of flexible material having a plain margin beyond said cleansing and polishing surface,'there being cross-slits in the plain margin of said linear strip of flexible material beyond said cleansing and polishing surface for enabling the attachment of said flexible strip of material 5 to and around the forefinger for rubbing application to the teeth. 7

3. A dental massage and polishing utensil comprising a single linear flat strip of flexible material having a plain surface, a comparatively deepnapped thick moisture and cleanser absorbing surface on a portion of said flexible strip of material 'to leave a plain surface in longitudinal alignment therewith, a dental cleansing substance associated with said thick absorbing surface,-

there being crOss-slits in the plain surface of said linear strip of flexible material beyond said absorbing surface for enabling the attachment of said flexible strip of material to and around the forefinger for rubbing application to the teeth.

40 4. A dental massage and polishing utensil comprising a single linear flat strip of flexible material having a plain surface area, a comparatively deep-napped thick moisture and cleanser absorbing surface on said flexible strip of material in longitudinal alignment with said plain surface area, a dental cleansing substance associated with said thick absorbing surface, there being crossslits in the plain surface area of said linear strip of flexible material in longitudinal alignment with said thick portion for enabling the attachment of said flexible strip of material to and aroundthe forefinger for rubbing application to the teeth;

7 HARRY R. RATHBUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA EiiTs 

